Global projects Archives

How Can Off-Site Production Transform Your Balcony Project?

Posted on 28th February 202513th October 2025 by Nimrita Bassi

Sapphire has embraced and applied modern methods of construction to all its projects, from using standardised designs to off-site production and storage. We aim to minimise on-site work by finishing our balconies in our factories, leading to various benefits for our clients.

What are the Key Benefits of Off-Site Balcony Production?

Increased Quality Assurance: Producing balcony units in a factory setting ensures higher quality control. Our balconies go through strict quality checks and using our Passport app we ensure that a balcony passes on to the next production stage after it’s passed the previous one, ensuring a higher quality output and less repetition of work.
Increased Perceived Value: Off-site balcony production increases the quality of output. Therefore, every balcony installed will be high quality, increasing the condo’s value.
Fewer Project Delays: Health and safety issues related to hot work during the installation of traditional balconies are minimised, and so is the risk of errors.
Faster Balcony Installation: We have been able to rapidly install over 60 Glide-On Cassette balconies in a day. As the balconies are prefinished in our manufacturing plant, installation becomes faster and requires fewer on-site trades.
No Storage Requirement: Pre-finishing as much as possible in the factory minimises the need for secure storage on-site, which is especially beneficial for projects in city centres where space is limited.

Discover how our prefabricated balconies benefited a passive-house residential development Vienna House in Vancouver, Canada.

How Does Off-Site Production Contribute to a Project’s Sustainability Goals?

Less Waste Generation: When balconies are manufactured and finished off-site, there is a lower chance of product defects and material waste.
Innovative and Sustainable Design Possibilities: Off-site manufacturing gives innovators the chance to design and produce prefabricated balconies that are energy-efficient and sustainable. For example, our balconies are all thermally broken, leading to improved thermal efficiency in the building.
Shorter Construction Period On Site: Off-site production leads to project efficiency by reducing balcony installation time and on-site trades, saving construction time and carbon emissions.

Discover how our off-site production techniques and prefabricated balconies have reduced carbon emissions, time, and costs in our case studies.

At Sapphire, we believe that well-designed balconies benefit property developers and buyers significantly. Our balconies are constructed with functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics in mind. Through off-site production, our team can execute innovative designs with accuracy, enhancing our balconies’ perceived value.

If you have a project in mind and wish to discuss it, start a conversation about prefabricated balconies in Canada with us: www.balconies.global/contact-us/

Sapphire’s Global Expansion: Q&A with Kevin Bonnar

Posted on 4th March 2022 by sapphireadmin

Sapphire Balconies are proud to announce that we have expanded our licensee network to Canada and the US as part of our global expansion plans. We are excited to see our balcony solutions on three continents with over five successful years in New Zealand. Kevin Bonnar, Global Network Manager at Sapphire Balconies, has shared valuable insights during our exclusive Q&A session. He talks about Sapphire’s global expansion goals, building a licensee network, maintaining a brand promise worldwide.

What are the key goals behind Sapphire’s global expansion?

The most significant vital drivers are innovation and product development.

Like many construction companies, Sapphire Balustrades, as it was initially known, started as a small family business. As the company grew and introduced its balcony solutions, it was clear there was a demand in the UK for an alternative to concrete balconies.

Following the Glide-on balcony system launch in the UK, Sapphire began working on global expansion, where my journey with them began.

The key driving force for global expansion has always been innovation. Forward-thinking architects and developers across the globe have shown a fundamental interest in technology. As ‘Global Network Manager’, a part of my role is to align our innovation to our global customers’ regional challenges.

We have been in New Zealand for over five years collaborating with our licensing partner, Belcanto. Their knowledge of the unique challenges developers face in New Zealand has kept that innovation flowing both ways. Being the first venture outside the UK, we did have a few teething problems, but that was to be expected. We have worked closely with Belcanto to develop unique solutions to the challenges affecting construction projects in New Zealand.

Antamex is a well-renowned curtain walling company operating in Canada and the US. Over the last year, we have worked extremely close with a division of the business called Antamex Partner Systems (APS), looking at trends and understanding unique challenges in Canada.

What challenges do you think Sapphire will face during the expansion process?

Our pricing strategy and market acceptance are our two significant challenges.

We will be careful not to price it too high and set our prices per the Canadian market structure.

The concept of glide-on balconies is new to the Canadian market. So, the effect of introducing new metal balconies to the world of concrete balconies may take some time to endure its way to the market.

What are your hopes for the future with Sapphire’s Global expansion?

At Sapphire, we intend to expand worldwide. Beyond US and Australia, we have other continents in our roadmap, but they are farther from our current plans.

How does your global licensed network work?

We want to leverage the local knowledge and facilities. So, we network with the thought leaders in the industry and work alongside them to manufacture, deliver and install Sapphire balconies.